Flying target



(No Model.)

J, H. JACOBS.

FLYING TARGET.

Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

WITNESSES IN'VENTOB M BY 1 AT TORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Lflhograuhzr. Wilmington. Dec.

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JOSEPH H. JACOBS, OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.

FLYING TARGET.

SPECIFICATION forming, part of Letters Patent No. 349,160, dated-September 14, 1886.

Application filed February 26, 1886. Serial no. 193,395. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. JACOBS, a citizen of the United States-residing at Atchison, in the county of Atchison and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flying Targets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Figure 1 is a side view of my device, the image being thrown out of the target, as when the latter is struck. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the target set. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the target set, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the target.

My invention seeks to provide a target which will be satisfactory in flight, and may be used and re-used, not being destroyed by a single shot, as in the case of the glass and other frangible targets commonly used.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The body A of the target is formed of sheet metal, and is provided at its outer edge with a balance-ring, B, and at its center with an opening, O. This body is shown as formed in the saucer-shape usually given targets of its class, and the ring B is formed of sufficient weight to give the target steadiness in flight. It is preferred to provide thisbody with a skirt, 1), extended around it between its weighted edge and the opening 0, and covering, usually, two-thirds of the space between such edge and opening, as shown. This skirt serves as a convenient cover for the springs E, which, when theskirt is used, are secured at outer ends under the skirt, and have their inner ends extended close to the opening 0, and having an upward tension whereby to lift the gate, presently described, when such gate is released in the use of the device. This gate F is hinged at 1 to the body A, and has its other edge held to such body, when the target is set, by the latch, will be understood from Figs. 2 and 3. p

The image II may be as shown, or that of a quail, snipe, or otherwise, or even a live bird, as desired. Such image is movable through the opening 0, and is joined to the target by This connection is prefer-- the image, when released, may be forcibly thrown out of the target, as shown in Fig. 1.

WVhen the target is set, the image is passed through opening 0, and secured by the gate and the latch, which, in the present instance, constitute the latch devices. These latch devices, as will obviously appear, might be modified without departing from the broad principles of my invention. In such modification a single latch might be arranged to turn over and secure the image; but I prefer the construct-ion as shown and hereinafter described.

In order to prevent the image from engaging under the edges of opening 0, I prefer to provide the target with the'tubular well J, which serves as a receptacle for the image when the target isset, and guides the image accurately out of the opening when the latch devices release the same. WVhen this well is used, the spring I is preferably secured at its inner end at the base of the well, as shown.

In operation it will be understood that the several parts of the target will be set, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when cast. When the target is struck, a single pellet of shot will suffice to trip the latch and release the image. Manifestly the skirt might be dispensed with when so desired; but I prefer such construction for the reasons specified.v

In the construction shown the latch devices consist of a slightly-notched post or stud, K, mounted on the target, and a spring, L, secured to the movable edge of the gate, and arranged to engage the stud K sufficiently to secure the gate. In such construction the jar of a single pellet of shot striking the target will serve to release the image, which may be of rubber, cork, or other suitable substance. Instead of this image being an inanimate object, as before described, it will be understood it might be a live birdsuch as a sparrow or other small bird-which, when released, will fiy and form a target for the second barrel of a double-barreled gun.

The use of a live bird, it will be seen, may be preferred when a target for a second shot is desired, and when this live bird is used the device may be regarded as a combined target and trap, it operating first as a target and then as a trap.

In using a live bird the opening therefor might be formed larger than that for the inanimate image shown, or such opening and the gate therefor might be arranged at the bottom, instead of the top of the target and the latch devices, substantially as described.

I claim 1. A pigeon or flying target having a body provided with a receptacle adapted to contain an image, and provided with a gate or cover arranged to close the open or outer end of said receptacle, whereby to secure an image therein, and with latch devices, substantially as set forth.

2. A flying target having a concavo-convex form and provided with a receptacle fitted to contain an image, and opening out ofits eonvex face, and with retaining mechanism whereby to secure an image in said receptacle, substantiall y as set forth.

3. A flying pigeon or target formed of sheet metal, and comprising a body portion Dating a central opening, a spring-supported image movable into and out of said opening, a gate, a latch for said gate, and springs arranged to hear at their inner ends under said gate, substantially as set forth.

4. A flying pigeon or target having a central opening, and provided with an image movable into and out of said opening, and with a gate whereby to retain said image in the target, substantially as set forth.

5. A flying pigeon or target having an opening of less diameter than the body of the target, and provided with a tubular well of equal diameter with, and arranged with its open end or mouth in register with said opening in the target, said well being adapted to contain an image pressed through the opening and accurately guide the same out thereof.

6. The combination, with a target, of an image, a spring connected at one end with the image and at its opposite end with the target, and means whereby to detaehabl y secure said image in close contact with the target, substantially as set forth.

7. The improved target herein described, consisting of the sheet-metal body having a balance-ring at its outer edge and a skirt extended inwardly from said edge, and provided at its center with an opening, and a well surrounding and leading from said opening, a spring secured at one end in said well, an image supportedon the other end of said spring, the gate, and the latch, substantially as set forth.

8. A pigeon or target having a receptacle and a gate or cover therefor which retains an image within said receptacle, and means for holding said cover normally closed, but 11-- leasing the image when the target is struck, substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH H. JAFOBS.

Witnesses:

FRANK BUTTER, '1. W. DowNs. 

